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It Starts with a “T”

During my 14 years of teaching, one gift really sticks out in my mind.  I had given Christmas presents to my 5th graders and opened the gifts they gave me.  It was time to go home for break when one of my boys came to me and said his gift for me hadn't arrived yet.  He didn't want to tell me what it was, so he gave me a clue.  "It starts with a T and ends with a Y."  I kept thinking about what it could be.  The only thing I could think of was "toy".  

A few days after we returned from break, Jon brought me a wrapped box…I wondered what "toy" it could be.  How surprised I was to see a trophy inside awarded to "Mr. Shenuski - The best 5th grade teacher ever - from Jon M."   I had never received a trophy for anything in my life.  As a teacher I tried to make a difference in my students' lives, yet it's truly amazing how so many students over the years were able to make a difference in my life…Jon and the trophy still hold a special place in my heart and in my home.  

Steven Shenuski, Buckhannon, West Virginia.

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A Gift That Speaks Your Language

The best holiday gift given to me by a student was a donation—in my name—of 10 textbooks and a teacher's edition to a school in Haiti.

Apparently the official Haitian language, which is French, is spoken by a small percentage of the people, and yet the textbooks are in this language. The books donated in my name were in the Haitian Creole language that the teachers and students spoke. I was very touched by the thought that went into this gift. As a result, my husband and I contribute, through our church, to a small school in Haiti.

Terri O'Connell, Elkridge, Maryland

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The Best Gifts Come in Small Packages

I was a first year teacher, teaching first grade in a town where most students came from disadvantaged families. It was the day before Christmas break, and I had just handed out bags to all of the students full of coloring books, crayons, candy canes, etc. One of the little girls in my class came up to my desk with a tiny piece of wrapping paper and told me she had a gift for me. When I unwrapped it, I saw a dime inside. She said "My family doesn't have any money for presents, so I gave you the only thing I had. I hope you like it."

Blinking back the tears in my eyes, I gave it back to her and explained that I wanted her to keep that very special dime for herself. Instead, she colored a picture for me from her coloring book, which I still have 11 years later. I knew that day that: #1, I had the greatest job in the world, and # 2, I will never receive a better gift!

Janine Duffy, Forked River, NJ

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A Mouse in the House?

My most interesting holiday gift was given to me during my first year of teaching some 15 years ago. As the students gathered around my desk offering me several homemade and purchased gifts for Christmas, one student came up and offered a small package wrapped in wax paper. I gushed about receiving another gift and proceeded to unwrap it. What a shock to find a mouse skeleton inside! She was quite proud and had found it underneath her bed. This skeleton showed no signs of fur or flesh and was totally intact. I stammered on about what I would do with such a "unique" gift. Finally the child asked if she could keep it for me. What a relief! I can honestly say that I have not received a gift as unusual as that since.

Dawn Rankin, Centerville, Ohio

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Gifts to Remember

The “best” unusual gift I ever received was a real, hollowed out ostrich egg! The “best” (costly) gift was chocolate covered macadamia nuts, Hawaiian coffee, and an assortment of shells from a student whose family had visited Hawaii. The “best” gift from the heart was from a boy who gave me a half used bottle of his mother’s perfume, because he like the way it smelled, and wanted me to have it. I don’t know if his mother ever knew what happened to it!  It was given to me as a gift on the last day of school that year.

I am retired after 32 years of teaching, and during the last 15 years that I taught, if a child asked “What do you want for Christmas?” I always said, “an ornament for my tree”.  An ornament can cost next to nothing, or it can be whatever the child and his or her parents want it to be.  I have around a hundred handmade or store bought, funny and thoughtful ornaments, and I have put the child’s name and the year on each one.  I love putting up my tree each year with all the memories!  I only wish I’d thought of it the first year that I taught.  Of course, I still always got some coffee mugs, bath salts, and other things!  

Pearl Nancarrow, Globe, Arizona

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It Starts with a “T”

During my 14 years of teaching, one gift really sticks out in my mind.  I had given Christmas presents to my 5th graders and opened the gifts they gave me.  It was time to go home for break when one of my boys came to me and said his gift for me hadn't arrived yet.  He didn't want to tell me what it was, so he gave me a clue.  "It starts with a T and ends with a Y."  I kept thinking about what it could be.  The only thing I could think of was "toy".  

A few days after we returned from break, Jon brought me a wrapped box…I wondered what "toy" it could be.  How surprised I was to see a trophy inside awarded to "Mr. Shenuski - The best 5th grade teacher ever - from Jon M."   I had never received a trophy for anything in my life.  As a teacher I tried to make a difference in my students' lives, yet it's truly amazing how so many students over the years were able to make a difference in my life…Jon and the trophy still hold a special place in my heart and in my home.  

Steven Shenuski, Buckhannon, West Virginia.

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A Boy Highlights the Spirit of Giving

In the 6 years that I taught 4th grade, I'll never forget the gift I received from Raymond, a boy who struggled academically and behaviorally. He would drive me crazy some days, but for some reason I could never stay mad at Raymond—we had a connection. 

At the time he was in my class, Raymond was living with his Grandmother, who was his foster mother. They didn't have a lot. She had to take the bus to come to our conference, during which she told me Raymond had once asked her if they were poor.

One day shortly before Christmas, Raymond was given a basket of school supplies by a teacher he met with for extra help. You should have seen the look on his face as he proudly showed me the erasers, pencils, scissors, and markers.  What he was most excited about was the 2-pack of erasable highlighters.  Neither of us had ever seen an erasable highlighter before.

Later that day, Raymond came up to my desk, holding out an object which was carefully wrapped in a piece of notebook paper.  Inside was one of the erasable highlighters.  It brought tears to my eyes.  This boy who literally had nothing but the clothes on his back was giving me something that meant a lot to him.  It really touched my heart.  I still have the highlighter and I'm still using it.  I think about Raymond every time I pull it out.

Jean Braun, New Hope, Minnesota

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November 2005

NEA Today Home | November '05 Contents | Archives

President's Viewpoint

Katrina: We Are Family

NEA President Reg Weaver

I’ll never forget walking into a middle school in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, smelling water-logged books and school supplies in towering piles of Katrina debris, and seeing a brand-new basketball floor that was warped so bad it had to be taken up.

But I also won’t forget the smiles of the children; or hugging NEA members who had just had their own homes under 20 feet of water, but still managed to find the energy and will to scrub floors so school could start up again. 

And I won’t forget how much it meant to all of them when I handed over a check for $2,500 because NEA members from around the country wanted to help. 

I saw the same expressions of gratitude in Jackson, Mississippi, when I told School Board members NEA would buy uniforms for hundreds of displaced Katrina children they had taken in, so the children would feel like the other children in their new schools. 

No natural disaster in American history has displaced America’s school children in such a way as Katrina. It left 372,000 of them with no school to attend; it closed 700 schools, 100 damaged beyond repair; and it means thousands of NEA members have no jobs. 

Across the country, the NEA family knew what to do when people hurt. We mobilized. We set out to raise $1 million to help all the public school employees get back on their feet, and to support those who are taking in the displaced children. 

As soon as the money started coming in, I went on a trip to the Gulf Coast to start handing it out, because the need is now. 

We set up a helpline, and there have been days when more than a thousand teachers and education support professionals have called asking for emergency aid, be it to pay for medication or rent an apartment. One call was from a husband and wife, both NEA members, who had their house, their car, and their school all under water. 

We set up an adopt-a-school program, and hundreds of organizations have called, saying count us in, we want to assist. And we are asking some NEA staff to go to the area because an extra hand never hurts.

I learned something else from my visit: we need to be there for the long haul.

When the news crews leave, and government officials stop doing their photo ops, educators will still be there—caring for the children and teaching in trailers.  

And the children will still have the emotional scars and residual problems from the nightmares of life and death, being rescued from rooftops and living in shelters. 

I saw it first-hand. I was in a school in Pasadena, Texas, just outside of Houston, where a number of families had relocated. It was a few days before Hurricane Rita was to come ashore, and that afternoon children were being told they needed to evacuate. 

Walking down the hallway, I felt as though I could spot the children originally from New Orleans. They were the ones with a certain look in their eyes. 

It hasn’t been easy for them, or their big-hearted new teachers scattered in 25 states. 

The truth is, it won’t get any easier, especially during the holidays. So I ask that you continue to send money so we can exceed our $1 million goal. You can visit our Web site and make an online contribution, or send a check to the NEA Hurricane Relief Fund.

I know teachers and education support professionals don’t make big salaries. I know you now pay $3-a-gallon for gas. I know how generous you already have been, giving through the Red Cross, or your place of worship, or the local store.

That money has made a huge difference, and so has all the money NEA has distributed.  But problems remain, and we are a family. Let’s continue to help our education family in the TEAM NEA fashion. NEA appreciates you and so do I.

Photo: Sam Pierson

November 2005

NEA Today Home | November '05 Contents | Archives

Resources

The NEA Foundation Offers Three Grants with February Review

On behalf of NEA, The NEA Foundation offers Fine Arts Grants to members. Available to K–6 school art specialists through local NEA affiliates, the grants allow fine arts educators to create and implement programs that promote learning for students at risk of school failure. Click here for more information on eligibility and for guidelines. Apply by February 1, 2006, for NEA Fine Arts Grants.

Innovation Grants and Learning & Leadership Grants are available for all subjects, including the arts, literacy, science, and technology. Grant amounts are either $2,000 or $5,000. More than 1,500 grants have already been funded. Read about recent projects on the Foundation's Web site, and then submit your own idea.

Practicing K–12 public school teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff at public colleges and universities are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due by February 1, 2006, for both Innovation Grants and Learning & Leadership Grants.

Recipients will be notified by June 15, 2006. Applications are accepted on an ongoing, year-round basis, so it's never too late to apply. Proposals received after February 1 will be considered in the next grant review.

Applying for a grant is easy, so why wait? Visit the NEA Foundation website today for more information, including guidelines and a downloadable application. Or call 202-822-7840.

Revitalize Yourself in the Arts

Are you so busy teaching an arts discipline that you never have time to actually do your own art? The Surdna Foundation invites arts teachers from specialized, public arts high schools to apply for its Arts Teachers Fellowship Program. Fellows design individualized courses of study, immerse themselves in their own creative work, interact with other professional artists, and stay current with new practices in order to revitalize their connection wth the arts they teach. Twenty awards of up to $5,000 each will be made with a $1,500 award to the fellow's school to support post-fellowship activities. The application deadline is November 18, 2005. Click here for more information.

A CyberMission for students

Sponsored by the U.S. Army, e-CYBERMISSION is a Web-based competition that allows teams of students in grades 6–9 to apply what they've learned in math, science, and technology to solve problems within their own communities. Students conduct research and experiments to test their hypotheses, work with community leaders, and communicate with online CyberGuides—army experts in science, math, and technology. Teams compete for regional and national awards, including EE Savings Bonds, plaques, certificates, medals, and travel expenses to the national judging in Washington, D.C. Registration continues until December 12, 2005.

Picture Your Way to a Grant

Olympus America, Inc. and Tool Factory are sponsoring a student photo contest and offering classroom grants for projects using Olympus digital camera technology and Tool Factory's project building software. Prizes include cameras, software, and workbooks. Deadlines for both programs are December 30, 2005, and June 2, 2006.

Educators can also receive help, free-of-charge, in writing a CCLC 21st Century Grant (federal monies earmarked for community learning centers, after-school programs, or community-based enrichment projects) if their school meets certain criteria and the proposal uses Olympus and Tool Factory products. On average, funding is $1,000 per pupil across 3–5 years. Click here for info about all programs.

Teach Safety with Got 2B Safe!

To help teachers and parents educate children on ways to avoid dangerous situations that could lead to abduction, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Honeywell have partnered to develop a program called Got 2B Safe!

As part of the initiative, awards will be given that recognize the best classroom lesson plans created by teachers using four basic rules of child safety.

Prizes include classroom makeovers and gift certificates for school supplies worth as much as $1,000. The deadline for submission is December 31, 2005. Visit the Honeywell website for more information, plus child-friendly tips, games, and downloads.

Environmental Excellence Awards

The 2006 Seaworld/Busch Gardens/Fujifilm Environmental Excellence Awards recognize outstanding efforts of K–12 teachers and students working together at the grassroots level to preserve and protect the environment. Projects must be sponsored by a formally recognized school group.

Prizes include $10,000 in cash, camera film, T-shirts, and travel expenses to Seaworld in Orlando.

The entry deadline is November 30, 2005. For more information, applications, and a look at winning teams and projects, visit the Seaworld Web site.

Take Note

Ways To Teach Tolerance

Tolerance.Org, a Web project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, provides free educational materials that promote respect for differences and appreciation of diversity. Projects of note include:

• Mix It Up! Nowhere are the boundaries of group membership more clearly drawn than in the school cafeteria. Encourage kids to challenge the social climate on November 15 by stepping out of their comfort zone and eating lunch with different people. Go to www.mixitup.org for a free starter kit, downloadable posters, and much more.
• One World Poster Set. Designed to help students think about their responsibilities to each other, this kit includes 10 color posters and a standards-based teacher's guide with lesson plans for every grade. Order your free kit at www.tolerance.org/teach/resources/posters.jsp.
• One Survivor Remembers. Gerda Weissman was 15 years old—an ordinary teenager—when the Nazis came for her. Unlike so many, Gerda survived the horrors of the Holocaust.

Decades later she devotes her life to helping others understand the dangers of hate and extremism. Go to www.tolerance.org/teach/ resources/survivor. jsp for information and free classroom materials, including a 40-minute documentary film and a teacher's guide with standards-based lesson plans.

If you find these resources worthwhile, check out Teaching Tolerance, a free online magazine published twice a year by Tolerance.org that showcases innovative tolerance initiatives in schools across the country. The fall 2005 issue looks at school bus bullying, teaching the Holocaust, helping immigrant students cope with "dual identity," and more. Read this award-winning publication.

Survivors and Everyday Heroes

Trauma is not limited to those whose lives are forever changed by high-profile disasters. Every year, in towns and cities across the nation, teachers and other school staff experience the heartbreak of trauma or loss. It can be a sudden, unexpected death of a student, a colleague, a student's parent, or other event. The more common traumas often don't make the news, as did Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, or Columbine. Yet, they impact the lives of everyone who lives and works together each school day. Whether exposed directly or through the lives of students, we see more of life's challenges than most people will ever know.

That exposure can take a toll on our health and well-being. So, how can we protect our own mental health—and that of our students—when challenged by trauma or loss?

The NEA Health Information Network offers resources that can help. Visit their Web site to download materials to help school staff and students cope with trauma, including Dealing with Trauma and Loss: Practical Strategies for Enhancing Resilience.

National Inclusive Schools Week

In classrooms and communities throughout the nation, educators, students, and families will celebrate National Inclusive Schools Week from December 5–9. Sponsored by the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative and Education Development Center, in partnership with NEA, this event highlights the progress schools have made in delivering a quality education to all students—particularly those with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It's also an excellent time for school communities to discuss how they can continue to improve their ability to educate all children and youth.

The theme, "Bridging the Gap: Achievement for All," focuses on how schools and districts are narrowing the disparity in performance between individual groups of students. Kits to celebrate the event and promote inclusive practices are available for download. Of particular interest are resources on how to translate into practice research on closing the achievement gap.

Free Abduction Video and Organizing Kit

The Good Knight Network is offering an abduction awareness video and/or organizational kit free to NEA members throughout the year. The video is for concerned citizens; the kit is for police departments, schools, and other organizations. The film walks the viewer through 10 deceptions that criminals use to abduct and victimize kids. Call 301-595-8989 to request a copy.

Super-Sized Video

Educators can now buy an educationally enhanced version of the Oscar-nominated Morgan Spurlock film, Super Size Me. The cautionary food tale centers on the medical effects of a fast food-driven lifestyle, and explores the link between junk food and obesity by focusing on Spurlock's sustained 30-day diet of nothing but fast food.

Distributed by Hart Sharp Video, the enhanced DVD version is suitable for grades 6–12 and has been developed to promote students' awareness of their personal responsibility for their health by exposing them to relevant information, engaging them in hands-on activities and lessons, and facilitating appropriate discussions.

The DVD, rated PG, comes complete with a teacher's guide, printable lesson plans, student handouts, pop-up factoids, and a trivia quiz. Curriculum areas addressed include behavioral studies and life skills, setting goals, diet and nutrition, changing habits, exploring media literacy, and more. Click here for more information or to order the $39.99 DVD.

Human and Civil Rights Awards

You're invited to participate in NEA's 40th Annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner, July 1, 2006, in Orlando, Florida. Please join us to:

• celebrate the 40th anniversary of the merger of the American Teachers Association and the National Education Association,
• honor individuals and affiliates for their human and civil rights contributions,
• celebrate NEA's multicultural roots,
• recharge ourselves for the work ahead.

But don't just attend the dinner. Get involved by nominating an individual, organization, colleague, or affiliate for an award. Complete your nomination form online. Note these dates:

• December 1, 2005—Deadline for submission of award nomination forms to NEA Human and Civil Rights
• January/February 2006—Selection of awardees by the NEA Executive Committee, based on recommendations by the Human and Civil Rights Committee.

For more, contact: Sabrina Williams, NEA Human and Civil Rights, NEA, 1201 16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036-3290.

Helping Iraq's Children

During and after Operation Iraqi Freedom, American soldiers passing through Iraqi villages were horrified at the conditions of Iraqi schools, which had been severely neglected under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Corralled in sweltering, one-room buildings without air conditioning, fans, windows, solid floors, or even toilets, Iraqi students lack even the rudimentary supplies that American children take for granted. Libraries and books are almost nonexistent. Without these basic tools of education, Iraqi children face an uphill struggle to learn.

Moved by the plight of these children, many American soldiers are working on their days off to gather supplies sent by family members, friends, and various groups and take them to villages. Their efforts have been met with gratitude from local Iraqis and their children, who now have access to the basic tools of education.

Inspired by these soldiers, actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand founded Operation Iraqi Children, a grassroots program to provide concerned Americans with a means to reach out to Iraqi students and help support our soldiers' efforts to assist the Iraqi people.

Through the School Supply Kit Program, American children, church groups, and other organizations can help Iraqis by gathering school supplies in local drives, assembling them in kits according to instructions, then sending them to the OIC Warehouse for transport to Iraq, where U.S. soldiers will take them to Iraqi villages.

To find out how to participate in Operation Iraqi Children through fund-raising, mailing supply kits, or making a donation, visit the OIC Web site.

In Print
	Teaching Reading and Science Written by experienced science educators Karen Rohrich Ansberry and Emily Morgan, Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry, Grades 3–6, contains 15 standards-based, ready-to-teach science lessons that integrate science and reading in a natural way for young learners. Drawing on diverse and high-quality picture books, this volume covers a broad spectrum of science content and provides lesson plans with reproducible student pages and assessments. 304 pp.
	Bringing Up Boys After learning that boys receive at least 70 percent of D's and F's given to students in the United States, constitute 80 percent of all high school dropouts, and are involved in 90 percent of classroom discipline problems, authors Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens set out to learn why boys are facing rough times in school. In The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life, the authors use biological research and more than 20 years of classroom experience to present a detailed plan of how to most effectively teach boys. 368 pp.
	An Incorrigible Kitty Learns to be Himself Rotten Ralph learns the pitfalls of competition in the comical story Best in Show for Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel. The ever popular Ralph discovers the value of working hard to achieve his goals even when the odds are stacked against him. More importantly, our favorite feline finds that foibles can become strengths, and that being himself is always the best course of action. Ages 6–8. 48 pp.
	Meet the Press Building Bridges with the Press: A Guide for Educators by Julie Blair, an experienced Education Week reporter, offers practical advice for schools on how to develop solid relationships with the press and do a better job of getting out the real news about education. This manual offers tips on organizing press conferences, heading off public relations crises, pitching stories, and working with photographers. It also describes behavior that no school should tolerate from any member of the press. An excellent resource for principals and district communications officials. 96 pp.
	A Royal Ruckus When a young prince bumps his head playing ball, chaos breaks loose in the castle as everyone scrambles to find a bandage for His Royal Highness. The Prince has a Boo-Boo makes learning to read fun and engaging. From the I'm Going to READ series, this brightly illustrated picture book comes with a 50-word bank that helps beginning readers increase vocabulary and improve phonetic skills. It also provides a list of suggestions on how to use the word bank to help readers retain their new vocabulary. Ages 4–6. 21 pp.
	A Warning to Landlords Kids will giggle through this classic Japanese folk tale about a stubborn, miserly landlord and his satisfying come-uppance. Retold by Allen Say, Under the Cherry Blossom Tree uses simple, charming illustrations woven with short bouts of text to narrate how the unfortunate landlord's ingestion of a cherry pit leads to free fish and a lovely pond for the poor villagers. 32 pp.
	Getting through Tough Times Set in the 1930s, Marian Hale's first novel, The Truth About Sparrows, tells the gripping story of the Wynn family as they endure hardships brought on by the droughts and economic devastation of the Great Depression. This grim, yet uplifting story explores the theme that even though times may be tough, the bonds of friendship and family can overcome obstacles. Hale's unforgettable characters and vivid imagery make historical fiction accessible and engaging for young readers. 260 pp.
	Why does that painting look like scribbles? Art may sometimes seem impenetrable, but don't let that stop you from exploring it and sharing your discoveries with children. Enhance your appreciation and theirs with How to Talk to Children About Art, a simple, easy-to-use primer by Francoise Barbe-Gall. From Fra Angelico to Jackson Pollock, this volume features 30 well-known paintings in a question-and-answer format that provides historical background, explains genres, and helps adults answer common questions kids ask about art. The guide is divided into sections by age group (5–7, 8–10, and 11–13 years) and provides age-specific tips to further help adults as they share their love of art with children. It also offers suggestions for planning a successful museum visit. 208 pp. $16.95 from Chicago Review Press. To order, call 800-888-4741.

On the Web

Jazz Up Your Classroom

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has developed "Jazz in America," an Internet-based jazz curriculum for social studies, American history, and music classes. The fifth-, eighth-, and 11th-grade curricula include eight, 50-minute class lessons to be taught as part of social studies or American history courses. The curriculum presents a historical overview; examines characteristics of various jazz styles; highlights contributions of important performers and composers; and explores the social, economic, and political contexts. Other educational items, including a comprehensive jazz resource library, downloadable student handouts, a teacher's manual, and assessments can also be found on the Web site.

Exploring the Nanoworld

The University of Wisconsin, with support from the National Science Foundation, has developed online teaching modules to help teachers incorporate nanotechnology into high school chemistry and middle school technology classes. High school modules explore X-ray diffraction and scanning probe microscopy, shape-memory alloys, light-emitting diodes, and ferrofluid. Middle school modules explore magnetism, memory metals, and help answer the question, "how do we 'see' what we cannot see?" Modules include overviews, curriculum suggestions, lesson plans, guided notes, experiments, and assessments.

Career Planning the Fun Way

Three hundred middle school students from around the country worked on the Funworks Web site, created by the Education Development Center, to link students' interests and hobbies to future careers. The site includes a career quiz, information and resources on different types of jobs, career-related games, and a section for educators.

A Site for Media Specialists

This area of the PBS TeacherSource Web site provides a number of resources for librarians and media specialists, including free MARC records for PBS programming that you tape off-air, dozens of recommended books and sites for all grade levels and subject areas, full TV schedules for upcoming PBS programs, copyright and taping rights information, access to more than 4,000 free lesson plans and activity ideas, and more.

Heads Up from NEA Member Benefits

Are You Medicare-Aware?

The new Medicare law provides for a choice of prescription drug plans under Medicare Part D. It also includes additional "medigap" coverage options through Medicare supplement options K and L, which are designed primarily for healthy individuals.

If you are currently participating in NEA MemberCare® Medicare Supplement Plan Option H, I, or J, and you have not received an envelope marked "Federally Required Notice" that communicates the Medicare Part D options, please call 1-800-637-4636 to request it.

Over the next few weeks, current participants and many other NEA members age 65 and over will also receive a packet of materials explaining the new Program options K and L. Visit www.neamb.com/medicarevid for more information or call 1-800-637-4636 to obtain an enrollment kit.

Give the Gift of Gab to a family member or friend this holiday season with a wireless phone package from NEA Cellular. Teens, in particular, will enjoy the latest generation (have we gone beyond 'X' yet?) cell phone. And did we tell you that the phone* is free, and comes with free accessories, and free shipping and handling?

You get your pick of phones from top name brands like Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson and calling plans from leading carriers including Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Liberty Wireless, and T-Mobile. There are wireless phones and plans to suit every need! Get more information online or call toll-free, 1-866-327-2219. Happy holidays!

*Phone free after rebate.

BOOKS BY NEA MEMBERS
	Caveman Art Teacher By Jeff Dombek An author, illustrator, and art teacher combines his talents in this humorous book. Written for a transitional reading level, the tale is crafted as an early chapter book of about 2,500 words. In it, Fullerton Lane Elementary School is visited by Mr. Caveman, who announces himself as the new substitute art teacher. With wild hair, limited vocabulary, and animal skins for clothes, Mr. Caveman makes quite an impression on the stunned second graders, who wonder what can be learned from such an outlandish person. 24 pp.
	Getting in the Game By Dawn FitzGerald While most girls her age are starting ballet and cheerleading, Joanna Giordano finds her calling in ice hockey. Unfortunately, as the only girl on her middle school's team, she faces opposition from the principal, students, other parents—even her best friend. Joanna struggles to defend her dream while dealing with the growing-pains all seventh-grade girls face. Written by a substitute teacher, this work of adolescent fiction follows the trials of a spirited tomboy in a classroom filled with future homemakers. 136 pp.
	Grave Rubbings: New and Selected Poems By Ann M. DeVenezia This collection of 80 poems reflects the rich history of an Italian family in the Rose City of Madison, New Jersey, by a descendent who honors their memory. DeVenezia, a retired English teacher and poet, gives the biographies of 31 family members buried in Saint Vincent Martyr Cemetery. With chapters named after roses patented in Madison, DeVenezia organizes the poems according to historical and emotional undertones in this very personal vignette. 163 pp.
	Ten Ways to Motivate Kids By Glenn M. Fay Jr. Written by an experienced high school teacher, researcher, and father, this book strives to answer the perennial question: How can we motivate kids to be more successful in school and in life? The book is a concise review of stories, research, and strategies that focus on developing knowledge, skills, and supportive relationships, and helping kids find personal meaning in their learning. 70 pp.

On TV

Rx for Survival, A Global Health Challenge

PBS, November 1–3, 9–11 p.m. ET/PT. Check local listings.
This fascinating, six-part series gives viewers a short course in public health, from the 19th century to the present. Episode One introduces the "Disease Warriors"—19th century scientists such as Louis Pasteur who developed germ theory and created a powerful new weapon against disease—the vaccine. "Rise of the Superbugs" describes advances in antibiotics and the swell of bacteria resistant to them. Later episodes explore the delivery (or not) of antibiotics, vaccines, and other vital treatments to Third World countries; mosquito-borne illnesses; disease prevention; and global outbreaks. A related project is Rx for Child Survival, which will raise funds to help poor children from Nepal to Mali survive past age five. Two aid organizations, CARE and Save the Children, have joined the campaign. More information for students is available on their website.

Save Our History: Yellowstone National Park

History Channel, November 4, 6 a.m. ET.
Explore how ecologists and the National Park Service are working to preserve Yellowstone from the threats of pollution, sprawl, and tourists, while still keeping it accessible to visitors. Can be taped and used in the classroom for two years. Teaching materials are available on their website.

American Experience—Victory in the Pacific

PBS, November 7, 9–11 p.m., ET, check local listings.
This is an encore broadcast of a two-hour documentary about the last days of the Pacific War. The story begins on the night of March 10, 1945, when a wave of Allied firebombers hit Tokyo. Despite huge devastation, Japanese leaders did not yield. In fact, Japanese warships were on a rescue mission sailing toward Okinawa, the island dotted with hidden caves that became a killing ground for Americans and Japanese. After 82 days, the Japanese were defeated, more or less. But Truman came to realize that Okinawa was only a precursor to what an invasion of Japan would be like. In July, the Potsdam Declaration called on Japan to surrender or risk "prompt and utter destruction." But in Tokyo, the government ignored it. Only after the Soviet Union entered the war on August 8, two days after an atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima, did the cabinet consider surrender. With comments from Japanese historians and a focus on the Soviet Union's role, this documentary takes a deeper look at how the war finally ended. More information can be found on their website.

Concepts in Algebra

Discovery Channel, November 17, 5 a.m. ET.
Arabic numerals and algebraic concepts, including variable expressions, equations, and functions, are explained in this hourlong program. It can be taped and used in the classroom for one year with teaching materials available on their website.

Biography—George Washington: American Revolutionary

A&E, November 23, 7 a.m., ET.
This episode of the popular Biography series explores Washington's life and career, focusing on the 10-day period in 1776 when he altered the course of the Revolutionary War. Can be taped and used in the classroom for two years with teaching materials available on their website.

TLC Elementary School—Problem-Solving: Math I

TLC, November 25, 6 a.m. ET.
A look at ancient Rome in its prime, how scientists solve tough problems, and tips on using lists and tables to organize information. This 30-minute show is part of a series designed for grades K–6 that consists of segments edited from original documentaries. Tape it and use it in your classroom for two years, with teaching materials available on their website.

Hamlet

Hallmark Channel, November 28, 3 a.m., ET. Check local listings.
This two-part film adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, starring Campbell Scott and Blair Brown, is set in America at the turn of the 20th century. Can be taped and used in the classroom for one year. Teaching materials are available at www.historychannel.com/ classroom.

On TV listings are provided by KIDSNET, a national resource for children's media in Washington, D.C., and by Cable in the Classroom's Access Learning magazine.

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Leading the Way

A Storm of Support

In the wake of a violent hurricane season, NEA members find that the Association provides support in unexpected ways.

Ashley and Amanda Andress, a young couple from Mobile, Alabama, both joined NEA because of the protections and benefits the Association would provide to them as educators. They had no idea those benefits would someday include disaster relief.

Hurricane Katrina left the couple, their 18-month-old son, and three-month-old daughter homeless after a canal, fed by Mobile Bay, deluged their home. With their house uninhabitable and skyrocketing rental fees unaffordable, the couple bounced between family members as they struggled to figure out their next move. They knew they could rely on some form of assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross. What they didn't expect, however, was NEA reaching out to them with an offer of a relief grant.

Like the Andresses, thousands of educators in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas were impacted by an intense hurricane season that hit the Gulf Coast with a determined fury. In the wake of the storms, NEA President Reg Weaver was equally determined to help schools, students, and educators recover.

"We have a mission," said Weaver, while visiting a school in Bayou la Batre, Alabama, his first stop on a four-state trip to distribute $500,000 for hurricane relief efforts. Weaver presented checks to NEA affiliates in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas that will help with the clean-up of affected schools and help displaced students buy school supplies, textbooks, and, in some cases, clothes.

"These children need a sense of security and a safe place to call home," Weaver said. "School is an important way to help fulfill those needs. We can't let ourselves be complacent when it comes to educating these students. It's vital to their health and well-being that they attend great public schools and continue their learning."

The turbulent 2005 hurricane season served as a powerful reminder of the important role the nation's schools play in times of crisis. As the storms approached, tens of thousands of evacuees took shelter in schools. Some schools in the region served as depots and distribution centers for relief supplies. And thousands of other schools throughout the country enrolled evacuated students, providing them with a much-needed sense of normalcy.

Along with students, school also provides educators with a return to a healthy routine, allowing them to focus on educating rather than on the disaster. For those who lived in areas flooded or flattened by the storms, however, a speedy return to school was impossible. That's when membership in the Association became even more valuable.

"I feel that the [hurricanes] have shown us that membership in NEA is more relevant today than it has ever been," said Weaver. "We have the interest of educators and students in the disaster zone very close at heart, and we are doing everything we can to allow them to recover and return to normalcy as quickly as possible."

As part of its pledge to support those impacted by the hurricanes, NEA is raising $1 million in relief funds for state and local affiliates. NEA also established a toll-free helpline number for schools, teachers, and school employees to apply for assistance. Public school employees personally impacted by Hurricane Katrina, like Ashley and Amanda Andress, were eligible to apply for grants to meet various needs, including housing, food, clothing, and other personal needs.

The Andresses said it's humbling to be in a position of needing help. "I would never have taken a handout before—I was usually the one offering a helping hand," said Amanda. "But it's so reassuring to know that the NEA family is there, and that they care." —Cindy Long

Pledge your support to colleagues impacted by the disaster by donating to the NEA/HIN Hurricane Relief Fund. Find out how at www.nea.org/disasterrelief .

—Cindy Long

Photo: Alec Thigpen

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Last Bell

Art at the Astrodome

An art education student finds out there is something she can do to help.

By Rachelle Omenson

Ten thousand evacuees, one stadium, and nothing to do. It seemed unimaginable that these people might have to wait months, even years, to regain some structure in their lives. Of course, after wading in contaminated water or clinging helplessly to your roof shingles, boredom and rest might be welcome respites.

However, children bounce back quicker than adults. It was the children who ran giggling up and down the aisles of cots at the Astrodome, yelling back to their parents, "I'm right here!"

But amid relief workers, chronically ill elders, hundreds of police, and exhausted parents, the kids only had nylon cots to go back to. And that gets boring.

I wondered what I, an art-teacher-in-training, could do. Saturday morning, I decided not to wonder anymore and took the next flight to Houston. There was no plan to this plan because if the fuzzy logic didn't work, I was out hundreds of dollars and a whole lot of wasted Labor Day weekend. (I apologize now to the true practitioners of art therapy because I faked being one of you. But I swear it was worth it.)

Arriving at the Astrodome, I told the guard I was the volunteer art therapist. Clearly this sounded logical because she yelled over to the other gatekeeper, "Open that gate, the art therapist is here." O.K., that worked.

Inside, from up high, it didn't look like people, just a moving carpet of rectangles. "Hello, I'm the wandering art teacher. Does anyone want to draw?" I asked the first kids I saw. Surprisingly, they ran over to a table laden with packaged snacks and pushed them aside as I pulled boxes of crayons and markers from my vest and sketch pads and construction paper from my wheeled bag.

They never asked why I was there. They never said they were too tired to draw. They only asked if I also had any clay. In fluorescently lit, dirty section 432, we set up art class. They called me teacher and raised their hands when I asked them questions.

They signed their artwork and volunteered endless information about their experiences in New Orleans. I asked them to draw whatever they wanted and not surprisingly most drew houses surrounded by swirling water. In the water, some put mean-looking sharks and snakes. There had been a rumor that the New Orleans aquarium was going to burst and man-eating animals were suddenly going to swim into their homes.

Next morning, I came back with a neon-pink poster board "Art Room" sign and spread my supplies the floor. Seconds later, children were standing there with gigantic eyes wanting to touch everything. But they didn't. They asked first. Just like in school.

They drew houses again, but they drew Spiderman too. And the real little kids drew swirly stuff that could've been water, but it could have been their mom. They molded clay into crosses, balls, and snake shapes.

They even cleaned up—as if they needed structure in a sea of chaos. A 15-year-old boy took more cots and made a squared-off area for creating art. A 10-year-old girl grabbed a broom and started sweeping when the crayons got out of control.

I didn't have a good answer when the kids asked if I would be back tomorrow. Their faces dropped when I said I had to go home to Philadelphia. But it was comforting to hear that a real activity room was being set up for them that day, and that school would be underway the following week.

On the flight back, as I sorted through the drawings the kids had given me, I felt my own private hurricane of unease. Did I hit my art educator peak just one day before starting to student teach? Is anything ever going to live up to doing art in a football stadium? I have to believe that it will.

Rachelle Omenson is an NEA Student member at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Read a longer version of her story at www.neatoday.org. She has co-founded A Million Smocks to help those who need a dose of art. Visit www.amillionsmocks.org.

Photo: Rachelle Omenson

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The Good and the Bad

Gift-A-Rama!

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the school, not a creature was stirring, not even the fool who steals candy from your desk. Sigh. That bad boy deserves a lump of coal, but during this holiday season you should find peace, respect, and a nice little something wrapped up in a big red bow.

By Mary Ellen Flannery

Five Gifts You Deserve:

1. Get out of town for some "professional development" at the School House, where you can work on your stress management skills, catch up on some reading, and practice relaxing in the double Jacuzzi. Once a schoolhouse, this historic red brick building is now an award-winning bed and breakfast inn in rural Missouri. Check into the Teacher's Pet Suite, toss on a spa robe, and tell your principal you'll need regular workshops here in the future. For more information, see www.schoolhousebandb.com.

2. You don't need any more peppermint gunk for your tired toes. You just need a good pair of shoes with arch support and shock-absorbent soles. Check out Dansko professional clogs at www.dansko.com. Popular with chefs and midwives, these shoes are made for walking among the desks and across the playground but also when standing at the board, marching around the cafeteria, and running to the loo between classes.

3. Let the angels sing your praises this year. When parents ask you what you'd like for the holidays, why not suggest they lavish you with words? A letter of appreciation, addressed to your principal, will be placed in your personnel file and serve as positive evidence of your good work. Keep your own copy for inspiration on the days you'd like to lock the classroom door before the kids come in.

4. When Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés landed on the coast of Tabasco, the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II thought a god had arrived and so, naturally, presented him with cocoa beans. When you arrive at school, don't you deserve the same heavenly treatment? Let's hope your secret Santa goes for the best French bonbons at La Maison du Chocolat, www.lamaisonduchocolat.com, where the 20-piece chocolate collection is "presented in the correct order of tasting."

5. Love! Most of all, you deserve a little love, wrapped in a crooked bow and sealed with a kiss. These are the gifts that come straight from the heart and make you cry. Just ask Jennifer Koziolek, a Minnesota teacher. Three years ago, during her first pregnancy, Koziolek lost 22 pounds in the fall semester and frequently missed school for hospital stays. Naturally her first-graders were worried, and they showered her with gifts before winter break including one very special, hand-made blue blanket. "Dear Mrs. K: This is the blanket that I snuggled with when I was a baby. I wanted your little boy to have it so he won't be scared at night. Love, Zachary."

Five Gifts You Never Want to See Again:

1. The mugs are coming! The mugs are coming! Marching into your cabinets, falling into rows on your desk, shouting their cheery Madison Avenue mottos: "Teachers are the heart of learning!" After just four years on the job, a second-grade teacher in Berks County, Pennsylvania, has 20 or more mugs rotating to keep pencils upright. (Inconceivably, he neither drinks coffee nor tea.) Let's say he keeps at it for another 25 years, that's nearly one mug for every day of the school year!

2. Dead things are NOT good gifts. Some of your students do not understand this. They discover dead things and rejoice at their good fortune. A dead thing! What wonder! When they bestow this fortune upon you, take a lesson from Barb Hagerty at Amistad Elementary in Kennewick, Wisconsin. Last year, a second-grader found a "treasure" on his way to school and stashed it in his backpack for her. She gently explained that dead baby birds aren't sanitary keepsakes.

3. NEA Members' Best Gifts

   Several years ago, Kathy Crain had a very difficult, emotionally disturbed third-grader the kind of kid who hid under his desk and didn't willingly do anything she wanted him to do. At the end of the year, he brought her a guitar - a sad guitar with strings hanging each way, most likely discovered in a trash heap. And it touched her heart. The guitar is now named "El Kabong" and it's awarded annually to the teacher at her school who has tried to make beautiful music in spite of the pitfalls in the way. Read more stories about your colleagues most memorable gifts!

   There may be an appropriate time to give silky nothings - but it's not after Friday's pizza lunch. And there may be an appropriate person to get such garb from - but it's not one of your students surely. A first-grade teacher in Chicago reports getting a see-through nightie with two show-girl tassels from one of her cuties. The same teacher also told the Chicago Tribune that she'd received used soap, a tattoo parlor gift certificate, and one earring - her teaching partner got the other.
   
4. Watermelon bath bubbles, almond-scented lotions, and freesia body sprays - you rake them in and wonder just how dog-tired you looked during parent conferences. (And sniff... nope, not me, thankfully.) You get the answer when you unwrap that cute basket from The Body Shop to find Vitamin C eye reviver "to wake up tired eyes...." Promise then to give yourself a good night's sleep.
   
5. Heh-heh, heh-heh, heh- or not! Take this Beavis & Butthead "School Sucks!" T-shirt and save it for waxing the car and polishing forks. We have no sense of humor.

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ESP

Call this ESP 'Mr. VP'

Idaho custodian Marty Meyer gets active in his Association and reaches new heights.

When Marty Meyer told a school district official that he was running for vice president of the Idaho Education Association (IEA), the official was taken aback.

"He told me he couldn't believe that the IEA would elect a custodian as VP," says Meyer, head custodian at Fernan Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. "I said that they were not electing a custodian as VP. They were electing me, as a person."

The person Meyer has become since joining IEA in 1989 is different from the one who worked as a pipe fitter on a Texas nuclear power plant in the early 1970s. That person just punched a clock.

And, Meyer is no longer the construction worker he was in the late 1970s who grew frustrated with the frequent layoffs and lack of health and retirement benefits. That job too lacked purpose.

Even his school job appeared to be routine at first. "I started working with schools because the district offered benefits for my growing family," says Meyer, who had three children when he started custodial work in 1981. "Then I got involved with the Association and learned about all this opportunity to stretch and grow as a person. It changed me."

In 1993, Meyer began to spread his activist wings by joining the Coeur d'Alene Education Association insurance committee. He also started attending state conferences and recruiting new members. Eventually he joined the IEA Government Relations/Political Action Committee for Education.

"In a non-bargaining state [for ESPs], I was able to be an advocate for education support professionals," he says.

After attending his first national NEA ESP conference in 1999, his aspirations began to soar even higher. Soon he was testifying before the Idaho legislature on behalf of ESPs, lobbying legislators on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and working on political campaigns.

Meyer's ambition to help others was also sparked by the joy he found interacting with students.

"It's hard to have a bad day at work with the kids saying your name all day," he says. "Over the years, I get the opportunity to watch them unfold into great human beings."

Back at school he continues to manage the grounds of Fernan, while organizing parent groups to support community causes and playing guitar at assemblies and in classrooms.

"In everything I do, I like to get people involved," says Meyer. "I think of my job as providing a place where learning can occur."

Meyer's enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed by Association leaders.

"He brings a voice to our Association that we lacked," says IEA President Sherri Wood. "When he comes to a meeting you can be sure that he has done his homework."

After Meyer was named NEA ESP of the Year in 2003, NEA President Reg Weaver said that Meyer's job didn't "begin nor end at the schoolhouse door. Whether he's challenging—and educating—public education's foes, Marty's giving it his all."

Even with these accolades, to win the VP's office Meyer had to count on the support of teachers, who comprise 90 percent of IEA's almost 12,000 members. Meyer campaigned in most of IEA's nine regions, even though he ran unopposed.

"I expected an opponent," Meyer says. "I still had to address issues regarding my qualifications, experience, and motivation."

Meyer won the election last June. Along with serving a three-year term, he chairs the budget committee, which is responsible for the Association's $4 million budget.

As usual, Meyer has risen to the occasion, acquiring the necessary financial, administrative, and public speaking skills. He insists, however, on keeping his priorities in order.

"I support my president but there are times when you can't get away," he says. "Schools are busy places. I was hired to do a job and I better do it."

—John Rosales

Photo: Jesse Tinsley

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Editor's Note

Season of Giving

Leona Hiraoka, Editor-in-Chief

I can remember every baby gift bestowed upon my children—the stuffed leopard, the (really big) baby booties, the piggy finger puppets—and even more, the people who were kind enough to give them. Gift-giving creates a special connection. So while some people may see West Virginia teacher Lisa Cox as a clutter-fiend—in 20 years she's never thrown away a single gift from a student (yup, see page 37)—I see a woman who's connected. Her house may be crowded, but her heart is full too.

This holiday season, the traditionally valued gifts of life and love and family have been elevated after the tragic losses from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As part of the legions of donors and volunteers, NEA members have been giving aid to fellow educators and students. Houston school counselor Bonnie Stover helped displaced students like kindergartner Sir Henri (pictured, far left). Louisiana member Lena Alleman took in a displaced family after Katrina, and when Rita struck Alleman's area, the family in turn offered aid to her and her husband.

NEA has created the NEA Hurricane Relief Fund, pledging $1 million to go directly to educators and their students. To contribute to the Fund, and to read more on how educators are helping in the relief effort, visit the Web at www.nea.org/disasterrelief. And see our story on page 40.

And as the holidays approach and your students come down the halls or up the bus stairs bearing gifts, you're bound to get some memorable items. It's up to you whether to keep them for 20 years. But if you'd like others to see what gifts students can bring, post a story at www.nea.org/neatoday , and tell the world about your connections.

Photo: Sam Pierson

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Debate

Should high schools prepare all students for college?

YES

When you were in high school, were you told by a guidance counselor or teacher that you were not college material? Did you decide to defer college after high school graduation? Or perhaps you went to college right away, but then later decided to pursue another goal, with the possibility of returning to college afterward. In any case, I hope you were given the academic preparation and skills you would need to succeed in college. These skills are important for those who decide not to go to college as well.

As educators, we sometimes get caught up in the frustration of reminding students that they need to meet assignment deadlines and do a quality job. We have to prod lazy students who turn in mediocrity fully expecting to earn a top grade. This may cause us to have a negative outlook on such students' educational promise. However, the reality is that all students must come of their own volition to a place of willingness to do what's needed to reach the goal. When this happens, they begin to get more serious about school, meet those deadlines, and do their best work.

Not all students will go on to college. However, as educators, we must do all that we can to ensure that students are prepared to handle the rigors of college, should they later decide that they want to attend.

BilliJo Saffold teaches English at Riverside University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

NO

Traditional college is not for everyone. Our society needs people with a wide range of skills.

Although an advanced education is necessary for many jobs (doctors, lawyers, teachers), our society is dependent on more than white collar positions. Many students learn trades through ex-perience. A number of jobs in these fields are not only satisfying but high paying.

Having grown up in the construction industry, I am the child of a "blue collar" employer. My father owned his residential painting business for 35 years. It did not require him to have a four-year degree. All of his education came on-the-job. His business was successful and rewarding and he provided first jobs for many of the kids in our neighborhood.

Traditional college is not the only place for students to learn skills. Trade schools help students in medical, technological, and other fields. My neighbor attended a trade school. He is a tool and die maker. He learned the skill in night classes. After spending time as an apprentice, he opened his own shop. It is now a multi-million dollar business.

This year, one of the teachers with whom I worked left education to pursue a career in massage therapy. This teacher spent evenings attending a trade school to learn a new occupation. This skill is now in high demand.

Let's also not forget about the young men and women who have chosen to serve our country in the military. Many of these young people are paying for college by serving our country, but many will make a career out of the service. And of course, in our current state of affairs, many of these fine young people will not come home.

A solid K–12 education can and should prepare all of us for our next stage in life, be that college, trade school, military service, immediate employment, or to be a parent who chooses to stay home and raise the next generation. Our children need a variety of post-secondary opportunities in order to be productive members of society.

Bobbi Aschwanden Thomas teaches computer skills at the Congress Middle School in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Up Front

This section is a unique view of Trends, Facts, Innovators, Wisdom, Research, First 5 Years, News, Quotes, and Humor

Terminated Promises

California has money, but not for school children.

California is a trend-setter, so it's bad news for all Americans that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't learn an important rule taught in kindergarten: Keep your promises.

Or a more grown-up rule: Don't break the law.

But educators are fiercely campaigning to teach him those lessons—better late than never.

The promise was to restore the billions of dollars he "borrowed" from public schools in 2004 to close a gaping budget deficit. That money was guaranteed by a public ballot, but Gov. Schwarzenegger struck an agreement with the education community to borrow the cash and pay it back when state revenues picked up.

Now, state revenues are up. But the governor won't pay.

The schools are out $3.1 billion. How much is that? Enough to "keep 100 schools open that are slated to be closed, save class size reduction in all K–3 programs and extend that program to the fourth grade, [and] provide twice as much professional development for teachers," according to state schools chief Jack O'Connell, who has joined the California Teachers Association (CTA) and parents in a lawsuit to get the money back.

Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, is sponsoring a voter initiative that would let him off the hook permanently.

CTA's 800-member governing body has voted for a special levy of $60 per member for the campaign, because sometimes it's expensive to teach kindergarten rules to grown-ups.

Waste not

At Thanksgiving, tables are heaped with turkey and dressing, while garbage bags are stuffed with the leftovers—and we don't mean the makings of sandwiches, but rather the boxes, bags, and other packaging of a great meal.

Now imagine how much waste is tossed out after the daily banquet in your school cafeteria! On average, each student produces a whopping 45 to 90 pounds of disposable lunch waste a year.

With those totals in mind, teachers all over are teaching green lessons during lunchtime, sometimes with the help of activists at www.wastefreelunches.org. At Marvista Elementary in Normandy Park, Washington, Michelle Baca's students have packed their pb&j's in recyclable foil and carried their chips in reusable plastic containers on "waste-free Wednesdays." Leftovers were fed to the classroom worms, and used milk containers were rinsed out and saved for art and science projects. "Parents got the hang of it," Baca says. "We had no garbage!"

For that, perhaps, we should be thankful.

Upfront on Hurricanes

Katrina's and Rita's Victims

Will feds let schools focus on helping?

Caring for Hurricane Katrina's and Rita's youngest victims is a complex and difficult task—but so is complying with the strictures of the so-called No Child Left Behind law (NCLB).

In order to let schools focus on the first, NEA President Reg Weaver is urging federal officials to let up on the second.

Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said she would do that, but more flexibility is still needed. Schools greatly damaged or closed by the hurricanes will get a one-year reprieve from sanctions for failing to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) rules. And schools that took in evacuated children can request a waiver to remove their scores from AYP tabulations. To date, however, Spellings has failed to extend "highly qualified" rules for teachers and paraprofessionals displaced by the storm.

Meanwhile, the Administration has moved quickly with its conservative priorities—like a voucher plan to use federal tax money to educate Katrina evacuees in private schools.

Fear and Downloading

It's bad enough to be pushed on the playground. Now victims of bullies also can be chased through the Internet—with malicious messages, humiliating homepages, and other technological taunts. Called "cyberbullies," these new high-tech tormentors use information technology to deliberately harass, threaten, or intimidate, and they represent a growing problem among youth worldwide.

We want you to share your experiences with cyberbullying with us, and also your solutions. Please send us an e-mail at neatoday-reply@list.nea.org. In the meantime, some strategies for the classroom include these actions:

• Talk about cyberbullying with your students and ask for ideas on prevention.
• Many kids think they're anonymous while in cyberspace—let them know they aren't invisible and that "cyber-footprints" can be tracked.
• Be clear about the consequences of cyberbullying.
• Read more at www.bullyonline.org, www.cyberbully.org, or www.stopcyberbullying.org.

Hitting the Road

Busting up Privatization

Don't plan on getting sick. Ever.

No sick leave was just one of the many problems that North Little Rock's bus drivers and mechanics spotted in the dismal bids from private companies hoping to snag transportation services in their Arkansas district.

Other lowlights included lackluster retirement savings plans and drastically reduced health insurance, as well as proposals that would have cut the quality of service provided to students. Drivers who fell behind schedule while waiting a few minutes for late students would have been docked pay, and aides on special education buses were up for grabs.

With only a month to campaign, education support professionals did what they do best—hit the road. Aided by the North Little Rock CTA and the state Association, drivers and mechanics spoke out against privatization to parents, churches, and civic groups. Last spring, they won a unanimous school board vote.

Their road map to victory started with NEA, which provides a strategy guide to stopping privatization, available at local UniServ offices. "We just worked it!" says proud North Little Rock UniServ Director Peggy Nabors.

Learning to Teach

For new teachers, making the transition from student to teacher often isn't easy. For veterans, it's difficult to maintain the same level of passion and interest after years in the classroom.

Combine the two problems and you get one solution—a mentorship program like Halecreek Elementary's in Romulus, Michigan, where about a half-dozen Western Michigan University students learn their trade every semester at the hands of the pros.

The Halecreek mentors require their interns to help develop lesson plans; attend professional development and after-school staff meetings; meet with parents; coordinate service projects with students; and actually take over and teach for a minimum of three weeks.

"It provides university students the opportunity to learn from world-class teachers, and it gives educators another opportunity to teach," said Jason Salhaney, president of the Romulus Education Association.

Tell Us More

Lounging Around

Does your teachers' lounge have a special chair to rest your weary bones? Is it decorated like the inside of the Enterprise? Who's still hiding shag carpet and vinyl tables?

We want to hear about the special touches that make your lounge unique and wonderful, and a great place to hang out and laugh, cry, and share. Tell us about them, please, at neatoday-reply@list.nea.org.

Celebrate Public Schools

Put on your party hat, pin up your poster, and kick-off American Education Week on November 14 with parents, community members, and all members of your school's staff. This year's theme, "A Strong America Starts with Great Public Schools," reflects NEA's vision for public schools that help students to grow, prosper, and achieve, and in turn, strengthen America.

As you plan this year's celebration, rely on NEA's online toolkit, which includes great activity ideas, resources, templates, and downloadable materials, including an AEW poster available in both English and Spanish, at www.nea.org/aew. Plan something fresh for every day, including:

• November 15: Invite Parents to School Day.
• November 16: Education Support Professionals Day.
• November 17: Teacher for a Day.
• November 18: Substitute Educators Day.

Photos: Calvin Knight, Steve Cole, C Squared Studios, Stockbyte, Photodisc, SW Productions, Brand X Pictures

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State Report

Education Wins in Key Elections

California
Educators scored big victories in California, defeating Governor Schwarzenegger’s special election initiatives. Voters defeated Proposition 74, which would have lengthened the time public school teachers are kept in probationary status from two to five years. While probationary employees, they could have been terminated at any time without cause. In addition, school districts could have dismissed a permanent teacher after two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations, using a modified dismissal process. Voters also defeated Proposition 75, which would have required public employee unions to obtain written consent from every employee each year before using their dues for political purposes.  For more, visit the California Teachers Association .

New Jersey
In a face-off between two multimillionaires for New Jersey governor, Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine defeated businessman Doug Forrester. The 125-member political action committee of the 190,000-member New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) endorsed Democrat Jon Corzine for governor. “Jon Corzine has an outstanding record of support for children and public education,” said NJEA President Edithe A. Fulton. “Throughout his career in the U.S. Senate, he has always been accessible to NJEA members, showing a genuine willingness to listen to the concerns and perspectives of professional educators. For more, visit the New Jersey Education Association.

Virginia
With Virginia Education Association (VEA) support, Democrat Timothy M. Kaine won the Virginia race for governor, defeating Republican rival Jerry W. Kilgore. VEA President and Chair of the VEA-PAC, which recommended Kaine for governor, Princess Moss said Kaine’s victory means VEA and the new administration will be able to “continue the progress that Governor Warner started. It means that we’ll make progress increasing Virginia teacher salaries to the national average, and that we’ll fund the Virginia Standards of Quality.” Speaking to